Description
This Instant Pot Taco Pasta recipe is a quick and flavorful one-pot meal that combines ground beef, taco seasonings, tomato sauce, salsa, and pasta for a delicious Tex-Mex inspired dinner. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s perfect for busy weeknights and topped with melted cheddar and fresh cilantro for extra richness and freshness.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Aromatics
- 1 pound lean ground beef (88% lean)
- 1 cup diced white or yellow onion
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings and Sauces
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning (reduced-sodium or homemade preferred)
- Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
- 8 ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 cup mild tomato salsa (medium or hot salsa optional)
Liquids and Pasta
- 4 cups reduced-sodium beef broth
- 16 ounces dry medium shell pasta
Cheese and Garnish
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
Instructions
- Sauté the beef: Press the sauté button on the Instant Pot. When hot, add the ground beef and cook, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add onion and garlic: Stir in diced onion and minced garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes while stirring continuously to soften and become fragrant.
- Deglaze the pot: Pour in the beef broth, scraping up all the browned bits from the bottom of the pot to prevent burning.
- Add remaining ingredients: Press cancel to stop sauté mode. Add dry pasta, then top with taco seasoning, salt, pepper, tomato sauce, and salsa.
- Seal the Instant Pot: Close and lock the lid. Turn the pressure release valve to sealing.
- Pressure cook: Select manual high pressure and set the timer for 3 minutes.
- Release pressure: When cooking finishes, perform a controlled quick release to release steam safely.
- Stir and add cheese: Open the lid carefully, stir the pasta, then mix in 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy.
- Serve: Top the pasta with the remaining ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese and garnish with fresh chopped cilantro. Serve warm.
Notes
- Ground beef: Using 88% lean beef provides flavor without excess fat, and no need to drain after browning.
- Taco seasoning: Adjust seasoning choice based on dietary preferences or heat tolerance.
- Tomato salsa: Medium or hot salsa varieties can be substituted to suit taste.
- Beef broth: Reduced-sodium options help control the overall saltiness of the dish.
- Nutrition values are estimates: Nutritional information may vary depending on products used.
